Picture courtesy of Pattaya News

 

In a startling turn of events, a foreign driver narrowly avoided disaster when his SUV caught fire on a bustling Pattaya road during lunchtime. The incident occurred just after midday on Thai Udom Road in Naklua at the intersection of Phothisan Road.

 

Emergency crews and volunteers swiftly responded to the scene. Firefighters from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, assisted by a water truck and local residents, found a blue-grey Mitsubishi Pajero emitting thick smoke from its engine bay, with the bonnet already scorched.

 

Fortunately, thanks to the immediate actions of nearby residents, the situation was swiftly brought under control. Witnesses had used a chemical extinguisher to douse the flames before the fire could consume the entire vehicle.

 

Firefighters provided a final blast of water to ensure the blaze didn’t reignite, and the damaged SUV was subsequently towed to a local garage for further inspection.

 

The Pattaya News reported that the driver, who was identified as a foreign national with limited Thai language skills, shared his experience with the rescuers. He explained that shortly after refuelling at a Bangchak petrol station and stopping briefly at Makro, he noticed smoke emanating from the engine.

 

“I pulled over and popped the hood,” he recalled, crediting the alert residents for acting promptly to prevent a potentially explosive situation.

 

Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and investigations into the cause of the fire are underway.

 

This incident highlights a worrying trend on Thailand’s roads, with vehicle fires becoming increasingly common. The swift response in this case, however, serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance in averting potential disasters.

 

As authorities investigate further, local communities remain on high alert, ready to respond should similar incidents occur.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-17

 

 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This incident highlights a worrying trend on Thailand’s roads, with vehicle fires becoming increasingly common.

Most engine fires could probably have been avoided with regular maintainence og the vehicles.